Order of the Shattered Throne
Conclave of the Spheres
Legion of the Fallen
Primal Blood
Order of the Shattered Throne
Heirs to the Everlasting
The golden hills of Dynas are guarded tirelessly by the Knights of Charn and blessed by the light of the Valcarist Church. The Order of the Shattered Throne will once again bring harmony, stability, and peace to the world, restoring a golden age sundered by the Fall. No matter the cost.
About the Faction
History
People of the Faction
Magic
The Exalted Everlasting of the Triumvirate, Oster, Valcaris, and Expiatra, once led their divine brethren to make battle against the cruel Ymiris, their goddess and creator, saving the world from utter destruction. With the World Spirit defeated and bound, the people required a guiding hand to maintain order and to lead them on the path to enlightenment. The Triumvirate proclaimed that, where Ymiris saw failure in her creations, they saw only the potential for greatness. They took upon themselves the burden of leadership, founding what would, in time, flourish to become a great empire known as the Astarian Paradux. Alas, their dream of a perfect world was destroyed by the Fall, and where the hallowed halls of their empire once stood, now only the Malediction remains.
The Order of the Shattered Throne is the direct successor to the Astarian Paradux; its members descended from the survivors of that fallen empire. In the last days before the Fall, Valcaris, the Blessed Voice, entrusted a number of his followers with the Shards of the Throne of Oster, a powerful artifact that contained the Vestige of the murdered leader of the Triumvirate. These Lucidi, the chosen “enlightened ones”, were spirited away, beyond the reach of the besiegers, so that the glorious kingdom of the Triumvirate might be reborn. They settled in the northern land of Dynas, where the last strongholds of the empire still held, manned by the Knights of Charn.
When the Fall almost rent the world asunder, the capital city of Osterath was lost, along with all those who stayed to defend it. Even the Everlasting could not escape this dire fate. The great empire of the Triumvirate was shattered, with only a handful of distant outposts, such as Dynas, surviving the destruction.
During the Age of Strife that followed the Fall, the Lucidi and the Knightly orders came together, gathering the surviving faithful from across the continent to rebuild. They swore to one day reclaim what had been taken from them, to mend what had been broken, and to seek the return of the Triumvirate through their ancient Vestiges.
The leaders of this new kingdom divided themselves into ‘rites’, to better oversee the needs of the people, and to ensure the faithful remained true to their path. Thus was the Order of the Shattered Throne born.
The Order is organized into seven Rites, each being at once a sect of the church and a division of government. These Rites are composed of a mixture of military and religious elements, but the balance between them varies depending on the Rite. The Rite of the Forge, preoccupied with infrastructure and fortifications, tends to focus its military power on guards and sentinels, manning the walls and seeing to the Order’s defenses. The Rite of Honor mounts great expeditions beyond Dynas, deploying their military in an effort to reconquer the continent. Within such Rites, the religious aspects of the Order play a smaller—but no less important—role. Conversely, the Rite of Valcaris contains many priests of the Oathbound Light and fewer soldiers.
Each of the Rites is led by one of the Lucidi, those bound to shards of Oster’s Throne. This council of seven leads the Order, but they shun public appearance and operate chiefly through trusted representatives who speak in their stead. These are the Septas, and they are the de facto leaders of the Order.
The Rite of Honor
The Rite of Honor is one of the three most prominent Rites within the Order, intent as it is on conquest, subjugation, and the fulfillment of the Order’s goals. For that reason, it is composed largely of the knightly orders—such as the Knights of Charn—as well as many explorers and Legacy bearers, such as Seekers who delve deep into the Malediction.
The Rite of Law
The overseers of civic law and order, the Rite of Law is the main bureaucratic institution within the larger Order. They balance the scales of justice within the empire, delivering that justice quickly and efficiently, and ensuring compliance within the populace. They are bound by ancient tradition and ritual, and view themselves as the most recent in a long line of governance stretching back to the Triumvirate itself.
The Rite of Valcaris
Religious zealots, those of the Rite of Valcaris, uphold the teachings of the Everlasting, preaching the word of Valcaris to whoever will hear it. They ensure the salvation of the faithful and the conversion of the heathen, overseeing the absorption of conquered peoples into the Order. They serve as diplomats to other nations, mediating disputes and proclaiming the glory of the Order for all to hear.
Other Rites
Of the remaining Rites, the Rite of the Forge oversees the construction of new fortifications and outposts, while the Rite of Clarity seeks to understand and protect the secrets and Relics of the past. The Rite of the Penitent brings cleansing flame to the unbelievers and works to uncover the truth of the enemy, while the Rite of the Ophanim seeks enlightenment through the Hallowed, intent on finding the perfect vessels for the Triumvirates’ return.
The Oathbound Light
In their Golden Age, the Triumvirate drank deep from the lifeblood of Ymiris. They used the Echo of the goddess’s soul to empower themselves and their followers, as well as to create powerful magical artifacts, Relics, and Legacies. When the Fall took place, Ymiris’ cries of anguish and rage corrupted the Echo of the world, and this source of magical power was lost. The Order plans to one day reclaim the Thorn of Olem, the weapon the Everlasting used to bleed Ymiris of her power, but they quickly realized that, until they achieve this goal, they would have to draw their magic from elsewhere. Fortunately, they understand that, weak as they may be as individuals, true power lies in unity, in an entire people making sacrifices for the greater good. So it was that the Order came to a relatively abundant source of magic, one untainted by the Fall: the souls of the faithful servants of the Everlasting.
Every member of the Order will make oaths of service and loyalty to the Everlasting, to their death—and beyond. These oaths are part of an ancient magical pact, developed by the Rite of Valcaris, and enforced by the will of the Everlasting. Thousands upon thousands of people tithe a piece of their own souls to the Oathbound Light, a pool of power available for use by a select few. Those who die while in service to the Order are granted the honor of joining the Oathbound Light one final time, giving of themselves entirely. The Oathbound Light can technically be accessed by any person who has been soulbound to it, but in practice, only the Clergy and a handful of other selected faithful are permitted to draw on its benefits.
The magic of the Oathbound Light is one focused on protection and healing, with very few being able to wield the Light to harm others. That being said, some have noticed the Word of Valcaris does not explain all aspects of the Light. There are those who are blessed with extremely long lives by the Light— generally higher-ranking members of the Rites— while others seem to be cursed with suspiciously shortened life-spans. The fact that those whose lives were cut short tend to be discordant voices that oppose the status quo or propose changes that would disrupt the greater good is simply a sign of the displeasure of the Everlasting. Or so the Rites swear. When the Rite of Honor declares a crusade, entire villages may be called to martyr themselves, greatly boosting the Oathbound Light. This is a reality even the faithful discuss in hushed tones. The miracles the priests perform are real for all to see, and many beyond Dynas have pledged their own souls to the Oathbound Light. In more than one way, with each new soul that returns to the fold, the power of the Order and of the Oathbound Light grows.
The Seekers
The Malediction holds secrets untold, and only a Seeker may uncover them. Join the ranks of the brave few who dare face death.
Sigrith Andravos
When she asked for a parley, they laughed. When she spoke of peace and surrender, they jeered. Long after, with their crimson upon her blade, they came to understand. She had never wished for their deaths, but with sadness and grim determination, she took their lives anyway. Many times over, she has tried to show mercy, but each time she has failed, for her path has been set, and her faith is absolute.
Auric Evenhand
The hammer strikes, and the red-hot metal bends again. It will become a shield to defend his brothers in arms, or the blades that will slay the savages of Paxos. All beings are like soft metal, waiting to be given a purpose. All except for Auric, for he knows he must be the hammer that will forge a new path for his people and crush all who stand in the way.
Londriel
Londriel is a rare survivor of the ancient world, one sundered by the Fall. She remembers little of that time, except that the marvels mortals could accomplish then will forever dwarf the fledgling empires of today. Still, the power of magic blesses the wise and the reckless in equal measure, and she is haunted by the knowledge that prideful fools may bring about a second Fall.